1997 Westar Rules season
The 1997 Westar Rules season was the 113th season of senior football in Perth, Western Australia. It featured a number of dramatic changes to a competition whose popularity had been dramatically reduced by the drain of players to the Eagles and Dockers of the AFL. The competition’s name was changed from the prosaic ‘West Australian Football League’ to ‘Westar Rules’ in an attempt to update the local competition for a more sophisticated audience.[1] However, this change became regarded as unsuccessful and was reversed as per recommendations of the “Fong Report”[2] after four seasons. West Perth also changed their name to Joondalup to recognise their location in Perth’s growing northwestern suburbs, but changed back after the ninth round.
More significantly, after intense debate for a number of years about whether to expand or contract the competition,[3] a new team, Peel Thunder, was added, despite requests from the holders of Peel's licence that they not be required to enter before 1998.[4] This was the first change to the number of teams in the WA(N)FL for sixty-three years, and in eighteen seasons Peel have won only seventy-three matches out of 354 and have never won as many as they lost in any season, finishing bottom nine times. Along with occasional serious financial difficulties,[5] this has produced some serious criticism of the decision in subsequent years. A proposal to limit Westar to players under 25 and a few older veterans in order to allow a better flow of players to the AFL[6] was made during the season but rejected.
Affected badly by the erratic availability of a number of AFL-listed players,[7] reigning premiers Claremont had their worst season since 1975 and equalled East Fremantle’s decline in 1980 from premiers to only five wins, whilst Swan Districts, brilliant but erratic during 1996, began with nine wins in their first ten matches before losing eight of their next nine to miss the finals for the third successive season.
On a more positive side, the season saw South Fremantle win its first premiership in seventeen seasons in a thrilling comeback Grand Final win over traditional rivals East Fremantle, and Perth have after a disastrous opening its only season with more wins than losses since 1988.
Home-and-away Season
Round 1 (Easter Weekend)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 1 |
|
|
| Saturday, 29 March |
Perth 2.5 (17) |
def. by |
Swan Districts 11.9 (75) |
Lathlain Park (crowd: 1317) |
|
| Sunday, 30 March |
Peel Thunder 8.4 (52) |
def. by |
South Fremantle 25.10 (160) |
Rushton Park (crowd: 5781) |
|
| Monday, 31 March |
Claremont 11.7 (73) |
def. by |
East Perth 11.18 (84) |
Claremont Oval (crowd: 2686) |
|
| Monday, 31 March |
Joondalup 11.9 (75) |
def. by |
East Fremantle 11.15 (81) |
Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2841) |
|
|
Bye: Subiaco |
|
|
- Playing during an unseasonal thunderstorm,[8] Perth kick its lowest score since 1952 and second-lowest since 1919.[9] Its two goals were both from free kicks for ruck infringements, the first at the twenty-minute mark of the third quarter and the other in time-on of the last.[10]
- The sole lower score Swan Districts have ever held an opponent to is Claremont’s 1.7 (13) the previous season; the previous lowest by the Demons against the Swans was a winning score of 5.11 (41) after being goalless at half-time in 1973.
- Injury-plagued ruckman Travis Edmonds dominates along with forward Bernard Carney, Brendan Retzlaff, Troy Ugle and Stewart Kestrel who had not been together in 1995 and 1996[10]
- Debutant Peel kick the first goal against the Bulldogs and are in front until early in the second quarter before being overwhelmed[11]
|
Round 2
Round 3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 3 |
|
|
| Saturday, 12 April |
Swan Districts 15.14 (104) |
def. |
Claremont 11.7 (73) |
Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2183) |
|
| Saturday, 12 April |
Subiaco 27.20 (182) |
def. |
Peel Thunder 5.5 (35) |
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1531) |
|
| Saturday, 12 April |
Joondalup 8.14 (62) |
def. by |
East Perth 14.13 (97) |
Bunbury (crowd: 2212) |
|
|
Bye: East Fremantle, Perth, South Fremantle |
|
|
- Subiaco had their biggest ever win in open-age WAFL football, beating their famous record from the 1959 first semi-final, though they have beaten the record several times during their 2000s WAFL dynasty.[13]
- Troy Ugle does two brilliant shepherds and two difficult snap shots to derail a comeback by Claremont that threatened to give the Tigers their first win.[14]
|
Round 4
Round 5 (Anzac Day)
Round 6
Round 7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 7 |
|
|
| Saturday, 10 May |
Perth 13.10 (88) |
def. |
East Fremantle 11.8 (74) |
Lathlain Park (crowd: 1443) |
|
| Saturday, 10 May |
South Fremantle 26.17 (173) |
def. |
Peel Thunder 8.7 (55) |
Fremantle Oval (crowd: 1700) |
|
| Saturday, 10 May |
Claremont 13.18 (96) |
def. |
Subiaco 7.12 (54) |
Claremont Oval (crowd: 1467) |
|
| Sunday, 11 May |
Swan Districts 20.11 (131) |
def. |
East Perth 17.10 (112) |
Bassendean Oval (crowd: 2656) |
|
|
Bye: Joondalup |
|
|
- Peel Thunder set a WAFL record of four consecutive losses by over 100 points. Despite continued woeful on-field performances the Thunder have never equalled this debut-season ignominy.[20]
- Jon Dorotich kicks 9.8 (62) as South Fremantle kick eleven goals to one after Peel showed some improvement for three quarters.[21]
- Aided by five AFL discards, reigning premiers Claremont win its first game for 1997, with ruckman Greg Egan defeating a higher-profile relegation from the AFL in “Spider” Burton.[22]
|
Round 8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 8 |
|
|
| Saturday, 17 May |
East Perth 9.10 (64) |
def. by |
East Fremantle 15.9 (99) |
Perth Oval (crowd: 1862) |
|
| Saturday, 17 May |
South Fremantle 23.14 (152) |
def. |
Perth 10.7 (67) |
Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2204) |
[23]
|
| Saturday, 17 May |
Joondalup 18.12 (120) |
def. |
Swan Districts 10.12 (72) |
Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2734) |
|
| Saturday, 17 May |
Claremont 14.11 (95) |
def. by |
Peel Thunder 14.14 (98) |
Anniversary Park (crowd: 1005) |
|
|
Bye: Subiaco |
|
|
- Peel Thunder win one of only two games during their first three seasons, beating the reigning premiers in a match played to celebrate the centenary of the satellite town of Rockingham.[24] Their first “home” win was not until 2000, and ironically was also against the Tigers.
- The extremely small size of Anniversary Park prevented the running game that had made the Thunder look third-rate from establishing itself.[24]
- Jon Dorotich kicks 13.2 for South Fremantle in their big win over Perth.
- Fremantle-listed ruckman Matthew Whitelaw thrashes Sandover hopeful Travis Edmonds as Joondalup end Swans’ unbeaten start by kicking the last twelve goals[25]
|
Round 9
Round 10 (Foundation Day)
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round 16 |
|
|
| Saturday, 12 July |
Subiaco 14.9 (93) |
def. |
Claremont 9.12 (66) |
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 1184) |
|
| Saturday, 12 July |
West Perth 14.8 (92) |
def. by |
Perth 18.9 (117) |
Arena Joondalup (crowd: 2207) |
|
| Saturday, 12 July |
South Fremantle 12.11 (83) |
drew with |
East Perth 12.11 (83) |
Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2670) |
|
| Saturday, 12 July |
Peel Thunder 12.8 (80) |
def. by |
East Fremantle 22.11 (143) |
Rushton Park (crowd: 1351) |
|
|
Bye: Swan Districts |
|
|
|
In an all-day thriller South Fremantle and East Perth played the second and last WASFL/WAFL/Westar Rules draw of the 1990s. The previous drawn match was 406 games ago in April 1993 between the Royals and Claremont.[36] Dorotich kicked 8.2 in a superb display, but East Perth rover Shawn Colbin was penalised for holding the ball on the siren within range when it appeared he may have got rid of the ball.[37] |
Round 17
Round 18
Round 19
Round 20
Round 21
Round 22
Round 23
Ladder
|
|
| | TEAM | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | % | PTS |
| 1 | South Fremantle | 20 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 2144 | 1549 | 138.41% | 58 |
| 2 | East Fremantle | 20 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 2042 | 1611 | 126.75% | 52 |
| 3 | Perth | 20 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 1936 | 1593 | 121.53% | 52 |
| 4 | East Perth | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 1912 | 1585 | 120.63% | 50 |
| 5 | Swan Districts | 20 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2113 | 1870 | 112.99% | 44 |
| 6 | West Perth | 20 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 1801 | 1694 | 106.32% | 44 |
| 7 | Subiaco | 20 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 1852 | 1912 | 96.86% | 36 |
| 8 | Claremont | 20 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 1567 | 1805 | 86.81% | 20 |
| 9 | Peel Thunder | 20 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 1120 | 2868 | 39.05% | 4 |
| Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against |
|
Semi-Finals
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Semi Final |
|
|
| Saturday, 6 September (11:20 am) |
Perth 17.12 (114) |
def. |
East Perth 6.11 (47) |
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8,918) |
|
|
The return of centre half-forward Brett Spinks helps Perth reverse their previous loss to East Perth with a crushing victory in windy conditions, led by 100 gamer Toby Jackson.[46] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second Semi Final |
|
|
| Saturday, 6 September |
South Fremantle 7.5 (47) |
def. by |
East Fremantle 10.12 (72) |
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 8,918) |
|
- Since the two semi-finals were played at the same venue on the same day, the attendance figure is the same.
- Damian Condon demolishes veteran Dorotich in windy conditions to leave East Fremantle little trouble defeating their neighbours, who score just 3.2 (20) after quarter-time.[47]
|
Preliminary Final
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preliminary Final |
|
|
| Sunday, 14 September |
South Fremantle 19.13 (127) |
def. |
Perth 14.6 (90) |
Subiaco Oval (crowd: 7,585) |
|
|
Clem Michael’s ruck dominance allows the strong Bulldog midfield to dominate during an eight-goal second quarter burst that Perth never counter.[48] |
Grand Final
References
- ↑ Devaney, John; Full Points Footy’s WA Football Companion; p. 96. ISBN 9780955689710
- ↑ Barker, Anthony J. Behind the Play: A History of Football in Western Australia; pp. 358-360. ISBN 0975242709
- ↑ See Casey, Kevin (1995); The Tigers’ Tale: the origins and history of the Claremont Football Club, p. 201. ISBN 0646264982
- ↑ See Lewis, Ross; ‘Margin Could Cost Falcons’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 11 August 1997
- ↑ ‘WAFL club Peel Thunder found to have $300,000 loss’
- ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Pair Show Virtues of Age’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 18 August 1997
- 1 2 Stocks, Gary; ‘Part-Time Tigers Make a Difference’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 16 June 1997
- ↑ Perth Metro (Mount Lawley) March 1997 rainfall
- ↑ Perth: Lowest Scores
- 1 2 Lague, Steve; ‘Swans’ Five Steal Show’; in The Game, p. 8; from The West Australian, 31 March 1997
- ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Strong South Spoil Celebrations’; in The Game, p. 8; from The West Australian, 31 March 1997
- ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Horror Session Stops Rot’; in The Game, p. 8; from The West Australian, 7 April 1997
- ↑ Subiaco Football Club: Biggest Wins
- ↑ ‘Ugle Leads Swans from Brink’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 14 April 1997
- ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Lights Attract Fans’, in The Game, p. 11 from The West Australian, 21 April 1997
- ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Westar Fine for Starters’, in The Game, p. 12 from The West Australian, 28 April 1997
- ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Simister Steals Joondalup’s Thunder’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 28 April 1997
- ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Shawcross, Burton Turn Lions Around’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 5 May 1997
- ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Wilson Moves Back to the Forefront’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 5 May 1997
- ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Consecutive Losses by 100+
- ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Thunder Stilled by Growling Bulldogs’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 12 May 1997
- ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Mitchell Burst Gets Tigers off Mark’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 12 May 1997
- ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Late Changes Lead to Easy Bulldogs Win’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 19 May 1997
- 1 2 ‘Peel Upholds Local Pride’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 19 May 1997
- ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Whitelaw Rises to Occasion’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 19 May 1997
- ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Edmonds Looks Sandover Material’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 25 May 1997
- ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Mallis Pivotal in Killing off Tiger Hopes’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 25 May 1997
- ↑ Duffield, Mark; ‘Victory Is Costly for Royals’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 25 May 1997
- ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Swan Districts v Each Opponent
- ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Peel Thunder
- ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘Spirit of “Terror” Sustains Falcons’ Charge’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 23 June 1997
- ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘More Questions than Answers for Royals’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 23 June 1997
- ↑ East Fremantle v Subiaco- Game Records
- ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Demons Turn Up the Heat’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 7 July 1997
- ↑ Lewis, Ross and Lague, Steve; ‘Todd Blasts Thunder’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 7 July 1997
- ↑ WAFL Footy Facts: Drawn Matches
- ↑ Lewis, Ross; ‘“Apples” Bears Fruit in a Thriller; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 14 July 1997
- ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Demons Blast Swans out of Water’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 4 August 1997
- ↑ Stocks, Gary; ‘Sharks Raise Hopes of Centenary Premiership’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 4 August 1997
- ↑ Claremont: Lowest Scores
- ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Swans’ Season Sinks in Mire’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 11 August 1997
- ↑ Swan Districts: Lowest Scores
- ↑ ‘Perth Gets Points for Persistence’; ; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian 11 August 1997
- ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Spinks Injury Sours Demons’ Win’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 18 August 1997
- ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Dorotich Helps Himself to a Piece of History’; in The Game, p. 11; from The West Australian, 25 August 1997
- ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Happy Jackson Marks Milestone’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 8 September 1997
- ↑ Reid, Russell; ‘Condon Leads Sharks’ Revival’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 8 September 1997
- ↑ Lague, Steve; ‘Bulldogs Bubble in a Champagne Spell’; The Game, p. 11, from The West Australian, 15 September 1997
External links
|
|---|
| | WAFA era (1885 to 1907) |
- 1885
- 1886
- 1887
- 1888
- 1889
- 1890
- 1891
- 1892
- 1893
- 1894
- 1895
- 1896
- 1897
- 1898
- 1899
- 1900
- 1901
- 1902
- 1903
- 1904
- 1905
- 1906
- 1907
|
|---|
| | First WAFL era (1908 to 1930) | |
|---|
| | WANFL era (1931 to 1979) | |
|---|
| | Second WAFL era (1980 to 1996) | |
|---|
| | Westar Rules era (1997 to 2000) | |
|---|
| | Third WAFL era (2001 onwards) | |
|---|
|